Kaufman, who has known Mr Berman for 40 years, added: 'The truth will come out after the funerals and the portrayal of Mr Berman in some of the media will be found to be false. The things that people are saying about him are not true.'

Court papers obtained by MailOnline reveal that Mrs Berman had claimed her husband had left her virtually destitute during their divorce, which was finalized in December.

She had claimed she was forced to sell her father's watch and other possessions just to buy groceries.

The court papers claimed Mr Berman would buy household goods, such as toilet paper, which he would use and then lock away to stop his wife and children from using.

The papers said 'In fact, he has refused to pay for toilet paper, buy food and supplies for himself and keeps them where the wife and children cannot access them.'

Mrs Berman also claimed that while her husband lived in the marital home he bought household items for himself but he would lock them away to stop others from using them.

Last year, Mrs Berman had petitioned a judge to remove her husband from the home because of 'emotional abuse'.

The family had previously lived at another home in the historic and exclusive El Cid neighborhood which sold for $1.2million in 2010.

Friends said the couple were hit hard when the housing bubble burst in Florida and their incomes had plummeted.

In a financial affadavit Mr Berman listed his monthly expenses as $4,700 a month but an income of $2,888.

As part of the divorce Mrs Berman, who was a licensed realtor, had sought temporary payments from her husband to pay day to day bills as well as keep up payments on a lease car. And he agreed.

Her lawyer Maya Cain had told the divorce court at Palm Beach County Court that Mrs Berman did not have any means of finance and was struggling to survive while bringing up her two teens who attended the prestigious Dreyfoos School of Arts.

She claimed Mr Berman was making money on commission as a realtor while his wife needed money to 'live and work.'

"When the divorce was finalized in December Mr Berman agreed to allow his ex to have the marital home.

The five bedroom home was in the process of being sold for $590,000 - but court records show there were two mortgages on the home totaling almost $700,000.

Court documents filed last year as part of the divorce graphically spelled out the dire financial circumstances of Mrs Berman.

They revealed she had monthly spending of $4,500 but with no income. She listed her total debts as $641,000.

Some friends of Mrs Berman had claimed it was the pressure of having no money that could have driven her over the edge to take her children's lives.

A cousin, who did not want to be identified, said Mrs Berman had talked before about taking her life.

'She had convinced herself that she was not going to be in a position to manage to take care of the family, that there were going to be tough times, and she really wasn't strong enough to deal with the difficulties in life.

'There was no intent to revenge.She believed what she was doing was the right thing because she thought there really was no future, which is crazy.'

Richard Berman (second right) with his son Alexander and daughter Jacqueline along with two other adults. In a financial affadavit Mr Berman listed his monthly expenses as $4,700 a month but an income of $2,888

Despite the financial loss and depression other neighbors said Mrs Berman appeared to have turned a corner following the divorce and was preparing to move to a condo with her children.

Neighbor Ali Amir said: 'She said she was ready to go into a new world.'

But another neighbor said he suspected something was wrong with Mrs Berman when he saw her over the weekend.

'I looked into her eyes and she just had this weird look," said 69-year-old Marian Sklodowski.

'She had tried to sell me her house for a knockdown price because she wanted the money quick. I knew her very well, and I had never seen this look on her face.

'She was just off. There was nothing there behind the eyes. I told my wife, but she said I should not get involved.

'I just wish I had said something now because we have this awful tragedy.'

Mrs Sklodowski said she was also friends with Mr Berman.

'They were a nice couple. Everyone knew the were going through a divorce, but he was always there for the children. He was a good father.'

As part of the divorce the couple were too share custody of the teens. Mr Berman had agreed to pay $600 a month in child support and to continue to pay for their health care.

Mr Kaufman, speaking on behalf of Mr Berman, said he had a 'fantastic relationship' with the two children.

I don't listen to one sided stories. RIP to all those who lost their lives. Why didn't she just move out of her lush house? And EFF those divorce lawyers, they aren't worth ish. The mother knew that she could have sought help, but being a mother at times makes you feel like you are super woman. That you have to do everything your self. That father was trife but the woman and issues too.

She was selfish and a b!tch. Those kids had a future. Those kids probably WANTED to live and she killed them because she didn't want to let her ex be with the kids. The dad was paying child support, he was paying the lease on her car, he was helping, but the b!tch was probably used to more and was mad that she couldn't have more. I feel sorry for the father for finding his children dead.

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